BACK ON TRACK
Townsville Diggers hike Kokoda to fight PTSD
KOKODA evokes images of mates helping mates and to walk the track is to witness that spirit.
For Michael Lyddiard and Mark Taylor, it’s where they face their demons. The wounded mates are in a group of 39 taking on the 11day hike, retracing the footsteps of the army heroes of World War II, to raise awareness of PTSD and the challenges veterans face. The Bulletin is tagging along. Mr Lyddiard lost his right arm, right eye, two fingers off his left hand and most of his vision in an explosion in Afghanistan in 2007. Mr Taylor broke down after two Afghan tours.
On Imita Ridge’s sticky mud, it was Mr Lyddiard who gave his hand to help Mr Taylor but, on the descent, it was Mr Taylor who made sure his mate did not take a tumble.
There is almost a constant banter between the two – “I’m ready to go boss” – as they navigate the track.
“Today was about staying together and helping each other out,” Mr Lyddiard said.
Mr Lyddiard has been wearing a Little Bo Peep dress since the start of the trek and is determined to keep it on until it falls off as rags. “I am always hard on myself, whether it be uni or competing, so it’s there to remind me I need to have fun,” he said. “But it’s also there to help others and morale because they look at me and think I am an idiot.”
Mr Taylor, who suffers from PTSD, says he has felt that, since the start of the trek, his confidence is slowly coming back.
“As the days go by on the trail and as my confidence comes back, then I won’t doubt myself so much,” he said.